Cherry season is well underway across the state, with around four to five tonnes being picked every day in the lead up to Christmas.
Cherries Tasmania in Old Beach is one of the state’s largest cherry orchards and has around 80 hectares of fruit under nets and over 100,000 trees – much of which will be picked in the coming weeks.
The quality of this year’s cherries is said to be better than last year’s, with the cherries ripening on the tree until they are dark, sweet and juicy.
After Christmas, the orchard expects to pick around 35 tonnes per day, with the current team of around 70 people to grow to over 250 people working across the orchard and the shed.
The demand for cherries, especially in the export market, is strong, with Chinese New Year and South East Asia being key markets.
This year’s pre-season volume looks to be higher than previous years, thanks to a warm spring, but the post-Christmas volume is expected to be about the same as last year.
READ MORE: Bumper crop: Tasmanian cherries back in season just in time for Christmas
In early December, Fruit Growers of Tasmania CEO Peter Cornish said this season’s crop could produce 25% more than the last following a string of recent long and sunny days that have provided “great growing conditions”.
“We are over a week earlier than last year and the great weather means our cherries stay on the tree longer, and will be bigger, darker and sweeter this year,” he said.
“Most growers will start harvesting at the start of the New Year, with January being our biggest production month, but we will continue harvesting through most of February as well.”
“I would encourage Tasmanians to get out and enjoy some early season cherries.”
While prices will vary across the state, many supermarkets across Hobart have fresh cherries available now for $16.90/kg.
